#1 Fauna Fables. Tapestry Folio Series
Cairo, Egypt: Islam Aly, 2024. Hardcover. Number 16 of 60 variant copies - each with slighly different covers and illustrations. Book #1 of the "'Tapestry Folios Series', which celebrates the exquisite craftsmanship of Coptic tapestries, renowned for their vibrant colors and intricate designs. Traditionally, these textiles were adorned with motifs, showcasing mythological creatures, human figures, animals, botanical elements, and geometric patterns. Additionally, Christian symbols such as saints, scenes from the Old and New Testaments, crosses, and oriental symbols were commonly depicted. Each book in this series focuses on a unique selection of motifs, inviting readers to explore the beauty of Coptic tapestry art. 'Fauna Fables', celebrates the enchanting world of animals through a tapestry of fables and folklore. From majestic lions to graceful birds, these books invite readers to a journey through the fauna-inspired sections." (Islam Aly).
This particular book features laser-cut avian imagery and patterns designed to replicate the intricate patterns, appearance, and texture found in traditional Coptic tapestries. Coptic bound in hand-carved white camel bone with intricately carved spaces and cuts that reveal the patterns inside the book. The pages are blue handmade paper. Two yellow leather straps wrap around book to hold closed. Unpaginated. Size: 3 x 3 x 1 inches.
Islam Aly is an Egyptian-born book artist and teacher. His books explore the possibilities of historical bindings in contemporary book art practices They have appeared in international exhibitions in the United States and abroad, and in private and public collections including the New York Public Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Library of Chile, Yale University, and Bibliotheca Alexandrina. In an artist's statement he writes: "When I make a historical book structure, I go through a learning process. I learn the history as well as the different physical aspects of the binding such as how a book form is constructed in a specific sequence. I learn about the use of different materials such as paper, wood, leather and dyes. I learn to make choices in selecting and replacing traditional materials that I don’t have access to. I use these different experiences to enhance my work in making artists’ books and to use historical and cultural references from these structures in the actual content. In essence, I wish to explore new ways to use the rich structures of historical books in contemporary artists’ book practice and incorporate contemporary content into strictly historical structures." ARTB/061324. Fine.
Item #37542
Price: $600.00